diff --git a/docs/akkudoktoreos/optimpost.md b/docs/akkudoktoreos/optimpost.md
index e6e76823..98cf490a 100644
--- a/docs/akkudoktoreos/optimpost.md
+++ b/docs/akkudoktoreos/optimpost.md
@@ -510,6 +510,8 @@ be unreachable. `deadline_policy` decides what happens then:
   - `credited_euro`: the credit applied to the total balance
   - `curve.energy_wh` / `curve.value_euro`: breakpoints of the value curve
   - `curve.marginal_euro_per_kwh`: slope of each segment, monotonically decreasing
+  - `curve.residual_energy_wh`: the knee - up to here the value is backed by residual load,
+    beyond it only by an export
   - `curve.window_slots`: how many trailing horizon slots the curve was derived from
   - `reason`: why that mode applied. Empty in `AUTO` mode. In `FIXED` mode it distinguishes a
     configured `FIXED` from an `AUTO` run that found no priced residual load in its window - the
diff --git a/src/akkudoktoreos/optimization/genetic/terminalvalue.py b/src/akkudoktoreos/optimization/genetic/terminalvalue.py
index aed5c54a..3a13b3ff 100644
--- a/src/akkudoktoreos/optimization/genetic/terminalvalue.py
+++ b/src/akkudoktoreos/optimization/genetic/terminalvalue.py
@@ -59,6 +59,15 @@ class TerminalValueCurve(PydanticBaseModel):
             )
         },
     )
+    residual_energy_wh: float = Field(
+        default=0.0,
+        json_schema_extra={
+            "description": (
+                "Energy up to which the curve is backed by residual load - the "
+                "knee. Everything beyond it is only worth an export."
+            )
+        },
+    )
     window_slots: int = Field(
         default=0,
         json_schema_extra={
@@ -196,6 +205,7 @@ def build_terminal_value_curve(
     # Everything beyond the residual load can only be sold. A median feed-in
     # tariff rather than the best one: exporting all of it in the single best
     # slot is not something the horizon can promise.
+    residual_energy_wh = cumulative_energy
     if grid_export_allowed and cumulative_energy < max_energy_wh:
         positive_feed_in = [
             float(value) for value in feed_in_euro_per_wh[:window] if float(value) > 0.0
@@ -222,6 +232,7 @@ def build_terminal_value_curve(
         energy_wh=energy_points,
         value_euro=value_points,
         marginal_euro_per_kwh=marginals,
+        residual_energy_wh=residual_energy_wh,
         window_slots=window,
     )
 
diff --git a/tests/test_terminalvalue.py b/tests/test_terminalvalue.py
index a82b2157..cdcce97f 100644
--- a/tests/test_terminalvalue.py
+++ b/tests/test_terminalvalue.py
@@ -85,6 +85,19 @@ def test_export_tail_only_with_direct_marketing():
     assert with_export.marginal_euro_per_kwh[-1] == pytest.approx(0.08)
 
 
+def test_residual_energy_marks_the_knee():
+    """The knee separates load-backed value from the export tail."""
+    without = _curve(grid_export_allowed=False)
+    with_export = _curve(grid_export_allowed=True)
+
+    # 3 kWh of residual load in the window, whether or not export is allowed.
+    assert without.residual_energy_wh == pytest.approx(3000.0)
+    assert with_export.residual_energy_wh == pytest.approx(3000.0)
+    # Only the export tail reaches beyond it.
+    assert without.energy_wh[-1] == pytest.approx(3000.0)
+    assert with_export.energy_wh[-1] == pytest.approx(10000.0)
+
+
 def test_curve_is_capped_by_the_usable_battery_energy():
     """A battery smaller than the residual load ends the curve early."""
     curve = _curve(max_energy_wh=1500.0)